Resume Tip Tuesday: What Makes a LinkedIn Bio Great?

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Writing about yourself is tough. How do you strike that perfect balance between arrogant and self-assured?

Most employers will read your LinkedIn profiles before calling you. In fact, about half of all employers are looking at your LinkedIn profile during the hiring process, according to Media Bistro. And most of them are doing it as soon as they decide to consider your application.

The LinkedIn bio is among the first pieces of information employers will read to find out more about you. After all, as the largest professional social network, it is an extension of your resume.

Write a bio that paints a great picture about your skills, values, achievements and personality. Productivity website 99u (one of my favorite sources of inspiration), offers a great breakdown of what a killer bio must include:

Your bio should address the following five questions:

Who am I?

How can I help you?

How did I get here (i.e. know what I know)?

Why can you trust me?

What do we share in common?

It helps to visualize your target employer and talk to them like you would in person. Remember, your goal is to highlight give them a taste of your personality and why she should hire you. A great LinkedIn bio will tell a story.

“If you’re having trouble being heard, recognized, or understood, it’s probably an issue related to your story and identity. The good news? It’s never to late to reinvent your story,” Michael Margolis, dean of Story University, on 99u.

Thanks for reading Resume Tip Tuesday! Come back next week for another new tip. Dedicate your Tuesdays to your resume!

The CareerBliss Team

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